Indians winning streak ends at 22
Royals top Tribe to end Cleveland’s AL-record run
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians can return to clinching their division and playoff preparations.
Their historic winning streak is, well, history.
Cleveland’s AL-record run was stopped at 22 straight games by Friday night’s 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, who became the first team to conquer the defending league champions since Aug. 23.
Jason Vargas (16-10) pitched into the sixth and Brandon Moss homered off Trevor Bauer (16-9) as the Royals ended baseball’s longest win streak in 101 years.
With one last chance in the ninth, the Indians put the tying run on base before Mike Minor struck out the side for his first pro save, fanning Francisco Lindor on a pitch in the dirt for the final out.
DODGERS 7, NATIONALS 0: In Washington, Alex Wood struck out eight in six innings, Corey Seager hit a three-run homer during a five-run second and the Dodgers won on the road.
Wood (15-3) allowed three hits and walked one. Los Angeles has won three in a row after losing 11 consecutive games and 16 of 17.
The teams entered the highly anticipated three-game series having clinched playoff berths and owning the top two records in the National League. The Dodgers lowered their magic number to clinch the NL West to six.
The NL East champion Nationals fell six games back of Los Angeles in the chase for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
CUBS 8, CARDINALS 2: In Chicago, Kris Bryant had three hits, including his 27th homer, and the Cubs opened a big weekend series with their fourth consecutive win.
Bryant went deep in the fourth and singled twice in Chicago’s seven-run sixth.
The NL Central-leading Cubs stayed three games ahead of Milwaukee and increased their advantage over St. Louis to four games.
YANKEES 8, ORIOLES 2: In New York, Didi Gregorius hit a tie-breaking two-run homer and drove in four runs, leading the Yankees to their fifth win in six games.
Luis Severino (13-6) allowed three hits in eight innings.
ASTROS 5, MARINERS 2: In Houston, Carlos Correa and Evan Gattis had two hits apiece and each drove in a run as Houston jumped on James Paxton and cruised to a win over Seattle to move closer to clinching the American League West. Houston’s magic number dropped to two.
BLUE JAYS 4, TWINS 3: In Minneapolis, Josh Donaldson homered and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with an infield single, sending Toronto to a victory over Minnesota.
BREWERS 10 MARLINS 2: In Milwaukee, Neil Walker hit a grand slam during an eight-run eighth inning that broke a tie, and the Brewers beat the Marlins in the opening game of a series relocated from Miami to Milwaukee because of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
The Marlins were technically the home team and batted in the bottom of the innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, GIANTS 2: In San Francisco, Robbie Ray won his fifth straight start and A.J. Pollack hit a two-run double as Arizona defeated San Francisco.
ROCKIES 6, PADRES 1: In Denver, Tyler Chatwood pitched into the sixth inning and drove in his first runs of the season, Nolan Arenado homered and Colorado beat San Diego. RED SOX 13, RAYS 6 (15): In St. Petersburg, Fla., Xander Bogaerts had two hits in the Boston’s seven-run 15th inning F and the Red Sox beat Tampa Bay in a game that lasted 6 hours and 5 minutes.
ANGELS 7, RANGERS 6: In Anaheim, Calif., C.J. Cron hit a two-run homer to cap the Angels’ five-run rally in the sixth inning, and Los Angeles trimmed its deficit in the AL wild-card race to two games with a victory over Texas. ATHLETICS 4, PHILLIES 0: In Philadelphia, Daniel Mengden pitched a two-hitter for Oakland, and Matt Olson and Matt Joyce each hit a two-run homer.
REDS 4, PIRATES 2: In Cincinnati, Zack Cozart hit two of Cincinnati’s four solo home runs, powering the Reds to the victory.
TIGERS 3, WHITE SOX 2: In Detroit, Mikie Mahtook hit a game-ending RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning, helping Detroit stop a six-game skid. BRAVES 3, METS 2: In Atlanta, Sean Newcomb struck out eight in 5⅓ innings, and the Braves beat the Mets.